Every morning, we review the nastiest pitches from the previous day’s games in glorious high-definition GIFs. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite pitch and check back this weekend to see if it will be in contention for the GIF of the Second Quarter Contest. Did we miss your favorite pitch? Send us a tweet next time @PitcherList, and we’ll GIF it up and give you a shoutout here in the article.
Chris Sale’s Slider
https://gfycat.com/misguidedmeekibadanmalimbe
Chris Sale notched his 7th 10+ K game in his last 8 on Monday against the Rangers, punching out exactly 10 while allowing just 3 hits. Since the calendars flipped to May, Sale owns a 1.99 ERA and an absolutely absurd 14.58 K/9, entirely erasing any worries that surrounded him after a rough March and April.
Jordan Hicks‘ Slider
https://gfycat.com/frightenedfarflungcrane
While his control has still been very, very spotty (hey, you try controlling a 103 MPH fastball), Hicks has largely had a very solid season as the Cardinals’ closer, owning a 10.9 K/9 and 3.63 ERA, as well as 12 saves. If he does reign in his wildness though, Hicks could be one of the more lethal pitchers in baseball. The combination of his ridiculous slider and his absurd heat are pretty unhittable when his pitches go where intended.
Michael Wacha’s Changeup
https://gfycat.com/rigidmildlark
There’s no sugarcoating it: Michael Wacha has been atrociously bad for the Cardinals this season. Hopefully for the righty, who’s still only 27, Monday’s 6 shutout innings against Miami were a sign of good things going forward. Regardless of how awful his results have been, though, Wacha still has some decent stuff, and this vanishing changeup is a perfect showcase.
German Marquez’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/bitesizedtangibleleafbird
Sadly for us German Marquez owners, the hot start he enjoyed to kick off the season has largely cooled, and the reigning Silver Slugger winner has posted a 5.32 ERA since May 1, though his ERA is still a serviceable 4.19. Chris Sale may have stolen Marquez’s mojo as of late, but he can’t steal Marquez’s signature bender, which is still getting swings and misses left and right.
Odrisamer Despaigne’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/distortedadmirablebarnacle
Odrisamer Despaigne wasn’t awful in his 2019 debut, picking up the quality start before his bullpen did their best impression of the Tacoma Narrow’s Bridge. The same can’t be said about the rest of his -2.9 WAR career though, but at least we get this great strikeout of Trea Turner to watch for a bit.
Charlie Morton’s Curveball
https://gfycat.com/darkactualequestrian
To say that the Charlie Morton signing has worked out well for Tampa Bay would be vastly underselling it, as the 35 year-old ace has posted a microscopic 2.10 ERA through his first 14 starts, and hasn’t allowed more than 3 ER in a game since April 20th. Only Jake Odorizzi (No, you don’t need to adjust your TV set, you read that right) stands between Charlie Morton and the AL lead in ERA, though Morton’s perfect 8-0 record stands as the best in the Junior Circuit.
GIF of the Night
Which was your favorite pitch? Vote below, and the winner will be featured in the GIF of the Second Quarter Contest.
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